Newcastle’s second visit of the campaign on May eight arrives with everything still to play for. The Utilita Arena will once again house more than ten thousand fans and the North East crowd is eager to watch hometown hero Nathan Aspinall lock horns with Gerwyn Price in the night’s showpiece quarter‑final.
Aspinall snapped a five‑event drought by winning the nightly trophy in Exeter a fortnight ago, propelling himself back into the top‑four equation. The Stockport star has rediscovered the aggressive first‑dart rhythm that underpinned his 2023 Matchplay triumph, and practice footage shows a consistent ninety eight average across sets of legs.
Price, conversely, has plateaued after a blistering start. His last trophy came on Night Six and small grip adjustments appear to have disrupted muscle memory. He enters Newcastle on twenty five points—three above Aspinall—and cannot afford another early exit with Luke Humphries breathing down his neck.
Michael van Gerwen features in the bottom half of the bracket and will sense opportunity if his rivals cancel each other out. The Dutchman faces Peter Wright first, a pairing he has dominated historically, but Wright’s victory in Glasgow means complacency is not an option.
With just three nights to follow—Sheffield, Liverpool and London—Newcastle’s points carry extra weight. Bookmakers list Price and MVG joint favourites, yet local sentiment tilts toward Aspinall. One thing is certain: the Geordie faithful rarely sit quietly, guaranteeing a cauldron that could tilt fine margins.
